Hi,

I am 23 years old and was diagnosed last year with Crohns (although have been going to my doctor with the symtoms for 5+ years), I work full time for an insurance broker and am struggling with crohns.

I battle with the fatigue every single day, by the afternoons I am sitting at my desk nearly falling asleep.  I still get a full 7 hours sleep each night and when I wake up I feel like I have had no sleep at all.  I am 23 years old and do not feel like I am can live the life of a normal 23 year old, it gets me down and makes me feel like a failure.  

I am having flare up alls the time, I am having one now which started 2 weeks ago, despite being on steriods they still keep coming,  I am seeing the surgeon on 26th as the consultant has referred me for an operation to have the effected part removed, can anyone tell me what to expect? is it a quick procedure, how long will i be off work?  Work are not very supportive towards me which makes me feel even more worried about it and the time i may have to have off.

Any advice, experiences or just general information you could offer me would be very very much appreciated.

Emma

Go back to your doctors and if you haven't already get you b12 checked, and push for the injections (if you have not done this already).  My level was on the low side, and my doctor advised me even if your levels are normal you can benefit from the injections.  I started them this year and it has made a big diference.  I can also stay up til 10.00pm as well - yippeee

Hi i know how you feel am 22 and have just been diagnosed with crohns disease.  I have been put on 40 mg pred and aza.  But still get bad fatigue.  I am at college and haven't told anyone apart from my teacher that i have crohns as i don't understand it myself yet and feel confused.  I have lost contact over last few months with my friends as i have been coming home and just going to sleep and not wanting to socialise on my days off because of the tiredness.  I have also been told i will need a operation due to narrowing within 6 month to a year depending on how i respond to drugs and i am booked in for a mri small bowel scan.  Have you had one of these scans?  I can't tell you much about the operation but i completely understand how u must be feeling.  I have crohns disease of small bowel is that what you have?  I have no diarhea, just stomach pains, nausea, vomitting, fatigue is that same as you?

Sorry i couldn't give you much advice
take care bo xx

I unfortunately can't answer any of your questions but i am sort of wondering the same.  I'm to discuss the possibility of surgery to remove the affected parts with a surgeon.  It really scares me even the thought of it, so i just hope i can somehow get by on treatment, maybe even a change in diet if i can find out what may help.  No food seems to trigger anything, but i think high fibre food is a bit of a no-no for those of us with narrowings as it can cause blockages.

Regarding the tiredness are you getting plenty of iron?  I started getting some 300mg iron but it ended up causing diarrhea, so had to stop, so i'm currently just on vitamin tablets which are quite frankly doing nothing, but better than nothing i suppose, till I maybe get given something else.